Ethnic Minorities(1) in Hong Kong

The number of ethnic minorities in Hong Kong increased significantly by about 70% over the past 10 years

1. The number of ethnic minorities reached 584 383 in 2016, accounting for around 8% of the Hong Kong population and representing a significant increase of about 70% when compared to 2006.
(Chart 1)

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The major ethnic groups include Filipinos, Indonesians, South Asians(2), Mixed and Whites, with most Filipinos and Indonesians being foreign domestic helpers

2. The majority of ethnic minorities in Hong Kong were Filipinos (accounting for 31.5% of all ethnic minorities in Hong Kong), followed by Indonesians (26.2%). Most of them were foreign domestic helpers working in Hong Kong. Other major ethnic groups were South Asians (14.5%), Mixed (11.2%) and Whites (10.0%).

3. Among South Asians, Indians had the largest population size (accounting for 6.2% of all ethnic minorities in Hong Kong), followed by Nepalese (4.4%) and Pakistanis (3.1%).
(Chart 2)

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Compared to the older generation, more young ethnic minorities (excluding foreign domestic helpers) were born in Hong Kong

4. In 2016, 72.2% and 51.0% of ethnic minorities (excluding foreign domestic helpers) aged 0-14 and 15-24 were born in Hong Kong respectively. The proportion dropped significantly to below 20% for the older age groups. This reflected that more and more ethnic minorities had settled in Hong Kong, with their offspring being born and raised locally.
(Chart 3)

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Over 60% of ethnic minorities (excluding foreign domestic helpers) aged 5-14 were able to read or write Chinese

5. In general, younger ethnic minorities (excluding foreign domestic helpers) had a higher ability to read / write Chinese. In 2016, 64.3% and 52.9% of ethnic minorities aged 5-14 and 15-24 were able to read Chinese respectively. The corresponding proportions of being able to write Chinese were 62.0% and 49.7% respectively.

6. It is interesting to note that the proportion of ethnic minorities (excluding foreign domestic helpers) aged 55 and above being able to read / write Chinese was higher than their middle-aged counterparts. This was because more older Indonesians, Koreans and Japanese were able to read / write Chinese.
(Chart 4)

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Among the married ethnic minorities who were living with their spouse in the same household, more Thai, Indonesian, Japanese and Korean females had Chinese spouses. For males, more White and Indonesian males had Chinese spouses

7. In fact, for married Thai and Indonesian females who were living with their spouse in the same household in Hong Kong, the proportions of them being married to Chinese husbands were quite high, at 78.8% and 60.9% respectively in 2016. These proportions far exceeded the corresponding figures of Thai and Indonesian females being married to husbands of the same ethnicity (both at 13.0%).

8. For married Pakistanis living with their spouse in the same household in Hong Kong, the majority of their spouses were of the same ethnicity. Yet, in 2016, around 1 out of 8 (12.8%) Pakistani males had Chinese wives.
(Chart 5)